AUDI SPORT PERFORMANCE PARTS R8 EDITION

The Audi R8 has had no shortage of special editions, and like clockwork, the German automaker is presenting a new limited edition model called the AudiSport Performance Parts R8 Edition. Limited to just five models, the Sport Performance Parts R8 Edition packs plenty of upgrades spread throughout the whole car. There are new aero bits, improved suspension, and an exclusive body kit that no other R8 model, past or present, has worn. There will only 44 units of the Sport Performance Parts R8 Edition produced, including five models allocated for the U.K. market.

What Makes The Audi Sport Performance Parts R8 Edition Special

The aforementioned body kit and aerodynamic upgrades are displayed prominently, showcasing how form can blend with function seamlessly

A big part of what makes the Audi Sport Performance Parts R8 Edition unique can be seen in its body. The aforementioned body kit and aerodynamic upgrades are displayed prominently, showcasing how form can blend with function seamlessly. Most of the components are made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. That includes the front splitter, the updated air intakes with the visible fins on the vents and fenders. The side skirts are just as prominent, and if you take a gander towards the back of the SE R8, you’ll see the same thing with the rear diffuser and the huge fixed rear wing attached to the car. Not only are they visually stimulating, but they’re also dynamically useful in improving the car’s weight and aerodynamic capabilities. Audi even claims that the downforce produced by the special edition R8 approaches 250 kg at speeds of 205 mph. That’s 100 kg more than what the standard R8 is capable of. Even at speeds of 93 mph, downforce on the special edition R8 comes up to 52 kg, double that of the standard R8.

In keeping with the significant modifications, Audi also adds a set of 20-inch multi-spoke black wheels to shave another 8 kg off of the supercar’s weight. More importantly, a lightweight three-way coilover suspension was also installed to enable the car to adjust seamlessly depending on whether it’s on the road or in a race track. The car’s brakes have also been upgraded with ceramic brake discs getting fitted in the front and rear. The discs come with a titanium backing plate in yet another source of weight-savings for the special edition R8.

That said, improvements on performance times should be expected on account of the car’s lighter weight and the fact that it’s dripping in aerodynamic upgrades

There are no upgrades to the car’s 5.2-liter V-10 so expect the special edition R8 to still make 602 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque that the R8 V10 Plus has. That said, improvements on performance times should be expected on account of the car’s lighter weight and the fact that it’s dripping in aerodynamic upgrades. In standard form, the R8 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds before setting off on a top speed run of 205 mph. The aero upgrades on the Sport Performance Parts R8 Edition should cut that sprint-to-60 time to around 3.0 seconds, though it’s unlikely that it can go up past 205 mph.

Aesthetic upgrades are limited, and most of them can be found inside the special edition R8, including an exclusive Sport contour steering wheel that’s trimmed in Alcantara with a red 12 o’clock marker. On the tech front, the Audi Sport Performance Parts R8 Edition gets a smattering of features, including the Audi Smartphone Interface and a rearview camera.

The Audi Sport Performance Parts R8 Edition costs £176,560 in the U.K. It’s unclear how much or how many of these SE R8s will head to the U.S., but the converted price tag for the special edition supercar goes up to $235,000.